The National tribune., 1887-04-14

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arrived at Frederick, bringing orders from
| Washington relieving Gen. Hooker and as
| signing Maj.-Gen. George G.. Meade to the
command of the Army of the Potomac
This change of commanders in presence Of
the enemy, and ON the eve of great battle,
was hazardous experiment, and might have
| led to disastrous results. Many officers of
| high rank were incensed that Hooker should
| throw up the command at such time, but
the order relieving him was received by the
Army of the Potomac in the same spirit with
which previous changes had been met, and
determination to give to the new COM
mander the faithful service, zeal and CO.
operation it had
YIELDED TO HIS PREDECESSORS.
At night on the Both of June, the Army
of the Potomac was distributed nearly as
| follows: The First Corps was at Marsh
Creek, and across the road leading from
| Emmittsburg to Gettysburg; the Eleventh
was at Emmittsburg, the Third near that
place, the Second at Taneytown, the Fifth at
Hanover, the Sixth at Manchester, the
Twelfth at Two Taverns, Buford's Division
| OF Cavalry at Gettysburg the Headquarters
of the Army, and the Reserve Artillery at
TaneytOwn. When Lee learned that the
Army of the Potomac had crossed the Poto-
mac River and was marching northward, he
recalled Ewell and ordered the concentration
of his forces at Gettysburg and on the 30th
the whole rebel army was marching rapidly
on that place.
On that day Buford reported that he en-
tered Gettysburg at Ii a. m. and found every
body in terrible state of excitement on
account of the enemy's Advance to within
half mile of that town, and on pushing
him back, learned that Anderson's Division
was marching from Chambersburg by way
of Mummasburg, Huntertown and Abbots-
town toward York; also on the same day
that A. p. Hills Corps, composed of Ander-
sons, Heth's and Pender's Divisions, was
massed back of Cashtown, nine miles dis
tant, the enemy's pickets being in sight of
| his own.
On the 1st of July Gen. Meade, then at
Taneytown, issued circular stating that
from information he had received he was
satisfied that the object of the movement of
the army in that direction
HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED,
viz, the relief of Harrisburg and the preven-
ton of the enemy's invasion of Pennsylvania
beyond the Susquehanna. If the enemy as
sumed the offensive, heintended, after holdir q
them in check sufficiently long to withdraw
the trains and other impediments, to with
draw the army from its present position, and
form line of battle with the left resting in
the neighborhood of Middleburg and the
right at Manchester, the general direction
being that of Pipe Creek. To carry out this
plan, Gen. Reynolds, in command of the left
wing, was directed to withdraw the force at
Gettysburg, two corps, by the road to fancy
town and Westminster, and after crossing
Pipe Creek to deploy toward Middleburg;
the corps at Emmittsburg to be Withdrawn
by way of Mechanicsville to Middleburg;
| Gen. SlOcum to assume command of the two
corps at Hanover and Two Taverns, and
withdraw them by way of Union Mills, de-
| ploying one to the right and one to the left
after crossing Pipe Creek, connecting on the
| left with Gen. Reynolds and communicate
ing his right with Gen. Sedgwick, who would
| connect with him and form the right; the
| Second Corps to be held in reserve near
Uniontown and Frizelburg, to be thrown to
/ the point Of strongest attack should the
enemy make it. All trains were to he sent
to the rear Of Westminster. The Chief of
| Artillery was directed to examine the pro-
posed line and select positions for artillery.
| The cavalry was to be held on the right and
left TANKS after the movement was COM
pleted; until then, to cover the front and
| exterior lines well out.
General Headquarters in case of this
movement was to be at Frizelburg. Gen.
| SlOcum was to be as near Union Mills as the
| line would render best for him, and Gen.
Reynolds ut or near the road from fancy
town to Frizelburg. Probably this circular
WAS NEVER RECEIVED
by Gen. Reynolds, for early in the morning
of the day it was issued he sent the follow
ing communication to Gen. Meade:
| Buford just now reports that he finds small
force of the enemy in piece of woods Gettys-
burg which he Is unable to disodge. and while
am aware that it is not your intention to force
engagement Mt that point still. from the scope of
instructions have all the time had from you. l
| feel at liberty to advance to Gettysburg and de-
| velop the strength of the enemy at that point.